Mohamed Nadheem’s court hearing on Monday concluded early after the defense noted that the court has yet to inform him why the presiding judge in his case was changed.

Nadheem is the husband of Yumna Maumoon, whose father, former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, and brother, MP Faris Maumoon have all been jailed following state allegations of attempting to overthrow the government.

Nadheem was remanded for the rest of his terrorism trial by Criminal Court Judge Hussain Shahid. However, Judge Ahmed Hailam was presiding at his first preliminary hearing.

At the second preliminary hearing on Monday, as the state prosecutor was reading out the charges, Nadheem’s lawyer raised a procedural objection that the defense has yet to be informed of why the presiding judge was changed.

Afterwards, Judge Hailam concluded the hearing after saying that it cannot go on while the reason for the judge change has not been disclosed.

While Monday’s hearing was set for 9am, it was delayed for more than two hours and began at 11:45am. The entire hearing lasted five minutes.

Nadheem is charged with attempting to overthrow the government on the orders of his brother-in-law MP Faris through the help of other MPs and former police commissioner Ahmed Areef by using police officers to create public unrest.